With Two You Get...Red Velvet Fortune Cookies

Today begins 15 days of celebrating the Year of the Wooden Horse as the New Year kicks off  in China, Taiwan, and Singapore and in our family it is a day marked with much happiness for our two granddaughters who have come into our lives.

The Horse is a symbol of traveling, competition, and victory, therefore, it's consider to represent a speedy success in China.  Someone born in the Year of the Horse will have busy schedules set for the goals they make.  Also, the Horse is connected to heat, fire, and red; since red is also connected to love, the horse is treated as the romantic star in the Chinese Zodiac.  Because of this symbolism, I decided to created Red Velvet Fortune Cookies in honor of the this celebration.  Well, I also live in the South and Red Velvet was my first choice!

Red Velvet Fortune Cookies
4 large egg whites
1 cup superfine* granulated sugar
5 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 T heavy cream
3/4 cup + 2T King Arthur all-purpose flour
2 T European cocoa (i.e., Callebaut or Dutch-processed)
1/2 tsp. Red Velvet flavoring (or red food coloring)
1/2 tsp. Almond flavoring
pinch of salt

First, make a template.  I cut a 4-inch circle from a sheet of clear plastic, using my Sizzix die.

Preheat oven to 375F-degrees.  Line a baking sheet with a Silpat silicon liner.
In a stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and sugar until white and frothy.  Sift the dry ingredients and add to the egg white/sugar mixer.  Add the heavy cream and flavorings to the melted butter and use a small whisk to combine.  Add to the mixture and beat on low just until combined--don't over mix and create air bubbles!

Place the plastic template on the Silpat and scoop about 1 Tablespoon of batter in the center.  Use an off-set spatula to spread evenly. Remove the template and make another cookie on the same Silpat.  I recommend you only do 2 at a time because these cookies cool quickly.

Bake in the preheated oven about 5 minutes.  Remove and use a large off-set spatula to loosen the shape.

Place the "fortune" in the middle, bring up the edges and press together, then bend the cookie over a cup to form the shape.  I'm sorry I can't show you photos on how I did this; it takes to hands to create the cookie and I couldn't get Rosie the cat to take the photo!

Repeat the process until you've used up all the batter.  This recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies.

I think part of the fun is creating your own "fortunes."  Make it a family affair, then, have a wonderful dinner together.  When I was in Taiwan with my daughter and her husband to pick up our granddaughter, Maddie, I learned that the New Year is definitely centered around family--Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Enjoy!